vote verb intransitive verb : to express one's views in response to a poll especially to exercise a political franchise

Welcome to #ThePossibilists, our roundup of updates from our caffeinated den in Oakland and beyond. When we are not working with nonprofits, grant-makers, or innovators, we are co-managing three kids engaged in distance learning during a pandemic.

"Vote like our life depends on it, because it does." 
~Beyoncé

Find all the information you need to vote in your state here.

Clarity of Purpose in a Pandemic

Earlier this summer, when Jim concluded his assignment as interim CEO of the Center for Youth Wellness, he wrote an op-ed for the California Health Report calling for increased investment in the safety-net institutions that serve and support our most vulnerable now and during times of crisis. COVID-19 has turned these cracks in our safety net into fissures, and we are seeing new threats to our health and well-being emerge as a result. 

Building Technology-enabled Collaborative Care Networks

At Hickman Strategies, we believe novel partnerships between philanthropy, technology companies, and community-based organizations can bring about the change and impact called for at this moment. Here’s one example:

Another pernicious epidemic intensifying is the opioid crisis. Hickman Strategies is working with the CHCF Health Innovation Fund and its portfolio company, Collective Medical, to streamline access to medication for addiction treatment or MAT for individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) who seek help with withdrawal symptoms at local emergency departments. Using the Collective platform, this technology-enabled referral process will allow hospitals enrolled in the California Bridge Program and outpatient MAT providers to collaborate more efficiently and effectively to better meet the needs of individuals who struggle with addiction. You can learn more about this approach in Collective’s podcast here.

Operationalizing a Well-Being Strategy

The COVID-19 pandemic is testing our collective resolve and challenging our efforts to maintain a sense of well-being during a crisis. The vital links between families and their local economic, health, and social supports are upended. Undaunted by these circumstances, Adventist Health is implementing its three-pronged well-being strategy using the Blue Zones® framework. 

We are inspired by Adventist’s vision for the Pioneer Project – community transformation pilots using an eight-step process for scaling community well-being – to inform the creation of a Blueprint for Well-being. We look forward to sharing insights from our engagement in the months ahead.

Fall Conferences Ahead

Labor Day is behind us, Halloween 2020 is virtual, and the sprint to election day is underway. We are COVID-19 style busy, so we’ve focused our time on one upcoming conference:

Putting Care at the Center 2020 — This is a virtual opportunity for innovators and advocates for healthcare delivery reform across the country — both pioneers and newcomers — to meet, network, and create a shared agenda for the emerging field of complex care. Jim will be moderating a discussion or two during the proceedings.

What virtual events are on your calendar? Where are you going to exchange ideas and create opportunities for impact?

What Have We Learned So Far?

Finally, what do we think we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic? Here’s what Pew Research discovered: A large majority of U.S. adults (86%) say there is some kind of lesson or set of lessons for humankind to learn from the pandemic, and about a third of Americans (35%) say the lessons were sent by God. Go deeper here.

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